Ethiopia: Partial results show ruling coalition in huge win

Ethiopia's ruling coalition won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections, according to partial results released yesterday. Western countries said the vote was peaceful but criticised what they described as restrictions on civil liberties.

Early results from the vote Sunday showed the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front winning at least 442 seats in the 547-seat federal parliament.

The ruling coalition won all 23 parliamentary seats from the capital, Addis Ababa, according to the tally by Ethiopia's election commission.

Final results are expected on June 22.

The European Union said the elections were orderly but unfair.

"Arrests of journalists and opposition politicians, closure of a number of media outlets and obstacles faced by the opposition in conducting its campaign have limited the space for open debate and had a negative impact on the overall electoral environment," the European Union said in a statement.

Similar concerns were raised by the United States. The State Department said the US "remains deeply concerned by continued restrictions on civil society, media, opposition parties, and independent voices and views".